Pressed silo lug



June 10, 1941. P, RUTTEN 2,244,728

PRESSED SILO LUG Filed Sept. 15, 1938 A Ziorney;

Patented June 10, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,244,728 DRESSEDsILo we Peter Rutten, Plainfield, Ill.

Application September 15, 1938, Serial No. 230,043

3 Claims.

This invention relates to what are commonly known as silo lugs fortaking the screw threaded ends of the encircling rods or hoops usedon-silos or tanks and forming bearings against which the nuts threadedon such screw threaded end may be drawn up to tighten the rods or hoops.

At the present time these silo lugs are castfrom malleable iron andthereafter galvanized. The lugs must withstand heavy pressure and ingalvanizing the cast malleable. lugs there is danger of weakening thelugs through crystallization during the heating of the lug in the meltedgalvanizing material. Also the casting of these lugs is quite anexpensive process as compared to what would be the case if the lugscould be pressed cold from sheet material.

It is an object therefore of the present invention to provide a silo lugpressed from sheet metal to secure great strength in the lug as well asto secure economy in manufacture.

Another object is to provide a pressed steel silo lug which is lighterand stronger than the cast silo lugs now in use.

The objects and advantages of the invention will more fully appear fromthe following description. made in connection with the accompanyingdrawing, wherein like reference characters refer to the same or similarparts throughout the various views and in which,

Fig, 1 is a plan view of one of the lugs;

Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation of the same, some parts being brokenaway and shown in section;

Fig. 3 is an end view of the lug;

Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical section taken on 1 the line 4-4 of Fig.1;

Fig. 5 is a bottom view of the lug;

Figs, 6, '7 and 8 are respectively transverse vertical sections takencentrally through diiferent modified forms of the lug, Fig. 8 beingshown in oblique perspective; and

Fig. 9 is a vertical section taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 6, asindicated by the arrows.

Referring first to the embodiment of the in vention shown in Figs. 1 to5 inclusive, a silo lug is provided which is pressed either cold or hotfrom sheet steel or other analogous sheet metal. This lug includes anopen sided housing A which is of substantially rectangular shape and ofgreater length than width and it also preferably includes a plate Bfitting within the open side of the housing and closing it and forming astrut between the two end walls of the housing to give the housing greatcompressive strength.

The housing A includes joining side and end flanges 9 forming aframe-like base. Joining the inner edges of the sides and ends of thisframelike base formed by the flanges 9 are two rod receivingcompartments I0 and II. These compartments l0 and II are partiallycylindrical as shown and extend generally longitudinally of the housingA, one of the compartments as IIi having its central longitudinal axisinclined or tipped upwardly relative to one end of the base of thehousing A and the other compartment II having its central longitudinalaxis similarly inclined or tipped upwardly relative to the other end ofthe base of the housing A. The inner longitudinal edges of thecompartments I 0 and II join in a valley formed on the outer side of thehousing. End walls I2 close the ends of the two compartments ID and IIand join the end flanges 9 of the base. Within each endwall I2, a pairof rod receiving openings I3 and I4 respectively are formed, the openingI4 being located at a higher level than the opening I3 and eachcompartment I0 and H having an opening I3 leading thereto at one end ofthe compartment and an opening I4 leading thereto at the other end ofthe compartment, It will be noted that as viewed in the drawing Figs, 1and 2, the right end wall I2 is set approximately normal to the centrallongitudinal axis of the compartment II, while the left end wall I2 isset approximately normal to the central longitudinal axis of thecompartment I0. Of course, the right hand end wall I2 adjacent theopening I4 therein forms an abutment for a nut that may be screwed on tothe screw threaded end of a rod which may be carried first through theopening I3 in compartment II and then through the opening I4 therein.Similarly, the left end wall I2 adjacent the opening I4 therein forms anabutment for a nut that may be screwed on to the screw threaded end of arod which may be carried first through the opening I3 in compartment I0and thence through the opening I4 therein. To afford larger abuttingsurfaces for the nuts and to give the compartments somewhat greaterstrength, the upper sides of the compartments adjacent the ends thereofare provided with arcuate ribs I 5 as indicated.

The plate B is of such a size as to fit closely within the bottomportion of the housing A prefcrably slightly above the base formed bythe flanges 9, as shown in Fig. 4 and in Fig. 2, and this plate may beattached to the housing A as by welds I6 or in any other suitablemanner. The function of the plate B is to extend between the two endwalls 12 and brace and strengthen them against compressive strains.Preferably the plate B is provided with a number of edge notches I! topermit the drainage of Water from the housing A.

In place of a flat plate B, such as is shown in Figs. 2, 4, and 5, aplate C may be substituted of the type shown in Fig. 6, this plate 0being similar to the plate B with the exception that it is equipped witha longitudinal rib 18 to give the same greater strength. The top of ribI8 is brought into abutment with the under part of the valley of housingF used with plate B and the plate is held in the housing by suchabutment and by inwardly projecting tits 28 formed in the end of housingF after the plate is inserted therein.

In Fig. 7, a slightly modified type of lug is shown designated by theletter D. The lug D is generally quite similar to the lug previouslydescribed with the exception that the lug D has a plate I9 integrallyformed with the housing and projecting from the bottom part of one sidethereof to the opposite side thereof, the free edge of the plate l9being received within a rabbet 20 formed in a flange 2| at one side ofthe housing.

In Fig. 8 a slightly different modification of the invention is shown,the lug there illustrated being designated The lug E includes twincompartments 23 and 24 which are individually formed and later unitedalong adjacent inner sides by welds 25 and 26. These compartments haveintegral base plates 2! turned outwardly from their inner edges to formstruts between the end Walls of the compartments.

In producing the housings A and F shown in Figs. 1' to 6 inclusive, theblank sheet metal is pressed either cold or hot to form by stampingoperations, whereupon the openings l3 and M may be stamped out. Thehousing shown in Fig. 7 will be also formed by stamping operations aswill be the compartments of the form of the invention shown in Fig. 8.It will thus be seen that the entire lug may be economically and quicklymade. After the lug is formed it may be galvanized without danger ofcrystallization of the sheet steel during heating of the lug in themelted galvanizing material.

The lug being made from sheet steel or other analogous metal will havemuch greater strength than the ordinary cast malleable lugs now in use.Thus the lugs may be lighter than the cast malleable lugs now in use togive equal or greater strength.

It will be seen that an extremely simple, silo lug has been providedwhich has many advantages over the cast lugs now in use.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made inthe form, details, arrangement and proportions of the various partsWithout departing from the scope of the present invention which,generally stated, consists in the matter shown and described and setforth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A pressed metal silo lug of elongated generally rectangular shapecomprising an integral open sided housing formed of sheet metal andhaving a base and a pair of adjacent rod receiving compartmentsextending longitudinally thereof, the ends of said compartments beingapertured and forming rod nut abutments and a base plate fitting'vvithinthe housing and having ends in abutment with the ends of said housing toform a strut therebetween, and means for securing said plate to saidhousing.

2. The structure defined in claim 1, said base plate having passagestherein through which water may drain.

3. The structure defined in claim 1, the end portions of saidcompartments being upwardly ribbed.

PETER RUTTEN.

